Contents (17 sections)
If you are looking for someone you can trust with your child while you rush to get to work in the morning, or for a reliable pair of hands to be with your elderly mother or father day and night, you are not alone. For many working mothers, working couples and adult children, the best solution is a foreign caregiver who works legally. A caregiver work permit in Turkey is the only legal way for a foreign nanny or carer to work in your home with social security coverage and proper protection. In this guide, written for families and for the caregivers they hire, we explain the 2026 rules, costs and steps in a way that is simple and in line with the legislation.
What is a caregiver work permit in Turkey?
A caregiver work permit is the work permit issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MoLSS) under domestic services (household employment) that allows a person who is not a Turkish citizen to work legally in a family's home in Turkey (officially Türkiye) providing child care, elderly care, disability care or patient care. The application is filed not by the caregiver but by the family who will employ them, through the Ministry's online e-İzin system. If you are the caregiver, this means your employer family files the application, while you supply your own documents.
A caregiver application is subject to the general Turkey work permit rules, with one important difference: the "5 Turkish employees for each foreigner" rule and the capital requirements that apply to workplaces do not apply to domestic services. Instead, the Ministry looks at the family's socio-economic situation and whether the need for care is genuine. If you are looking for foreign staff for your company, different rules apply; we explain them on our company work permit page.
Which jobs qualify for a domestic services work permit?
In domestic services, foreign nationals are issued work permits for only four jobs:
- Child care: Daily care, feeding and supervision of babies and young children.
- Elderly care: Care for elderly people who struggle to meet their own needs, and support with their daily lives.
- Disability care: Care for a family member with a physical or intellectual disability.
- Patient care: Home care and companionship for a person with a chronic or serious illness.
Foreign nationals are not issued work permits for cleaning, ironing, cooking or general housework alone. The job description in the application must be truthful and focused on care. Presenting the need for a cleaner as a caregiver application both increases the risk of rejection and creates problems in any future inspection.
Who can apply for a caregiver work permit?
Who may file the application is set by law according to the type of care. A file opened in the wrong person's name can be rejected even if everything else is complete.
Applicants for a nanny (child care) work permit
- The mother or father, in married couples
- The parent with custody, in the case of divorced parents
- A person who has adopted the child
- A legal guardian
- A foster family
- For a child born outside marriage, the mother or the father who has legally acknowledged the child
In other words, a working mother can file a nanny work permit application in her own name. However, the child's aunt or grandmother is not on this list and therefore cannot file a child care application in her own name, unless she is the child's legal guardian or foster family. For baby care, the daily routine of families with two children and the questions to ask when choosing a caregiver, see our guide to foreign nannies for working mothers and couples.
Applicants for an elderly, disability or patient caregiver work permit
- The person who needs care
- First- or second-degree relatives of the person who needs care (for example, their children, grandchildren or siblings)
- A legal guardian, or relatives with the guardian's consent
This rule makes things much easier for adult children who have their own homes and jobs. For example, a daughter working in Istanbul can file an elderly caregiver work permit application in her own name for her father who lives alone in Bursa. The file must clearly show the address where the caregiver will work and the need for care. You can find details specific to caring for parents in our article on the elderly and patient caregiver work permit.
| Type of care | Who can apply | Key additional document |
|---|---|---|
| Child care | Mother or father, parent with custody, adoptive parent, guardian, foster family | Civil registry record; custody decision if needed |
| Elderly care | The person themselves, a 1st- or 2nd-degree relative, guardian | Documents showing age and the need for care |
| Disability care | The person themselves, a 1st- or 2nd-degree relative, guardian | Health report showing the disability |
| Patient care | The person themselves, a 1st- or 2nd-degree relative, guardian | Recent hospital or medical board report |
Income requirement: is there a fixed amount?
This is the question families ask most often, and the answer is clear: the legislation sets no fixed "minimum family income" figure. Claims circulating online that "you need a salary of X" have no official basis. In every file, the Ministry assesses the family's socio-economic situation as a whole.
The main factors considered are:
- Regular monthly income (salary, pension, rental income, business income)
- Assets (title deeds, vehicles, savings)
- Whether the family is in a position to pay the caregiver's salary and Social Security Institution (SGK) contributions on a regular basis
In whose name is income shown?
The income can belong to the person who needs care or to their blood relatives or in-laws up to the second degree, for example their children, daughter-in-law or son-in-law, grandchildren or siblings. If these people's income is insufficient, the family member who will cover the caregiver's costs documents their own income and provides a notarized letter of undertaking stating that they will meet the expenses.
Three example families
- Working couple, two children: A mother and father living in Ataşehir, both salaried employees, show their income with their own payslips and SGK records. An additional undertaking is usually not needed.
- Retired mother, engineer son: The pension of a mother living in Nilüfer may not be considered sufficient on its own. The income documents of her son, who works in Gebze, are added to the file to show that he will cover the caregiver's costs.
- Ill relative living alone, supportive nephew: The person who needs care files the application. If their own income and that of their relatives up to the second degree is insufficient, the nephew who will cover the caregiver's expenses documents his income and provides a notarized letter of undertaking. We decide together which document is submitted in whose name, based on the structure of your file.
The aim is to make sure the caregiver's salary and SGK contributions are paid regularly every month. In 2026, the annual cost to the employer of a caregiver on the minimum wage is roughly 490,000 TL. The heart of the assessment is showing in your file that you can carry this cost sustainably.
Caregiver qualifications and assessment criteria
The Ministry looks not only at the family but also at the caregiver and the nature of the work. What makes a file strong is that these elements are consistent with one another.
| Criterion | What is assessed? | What strengthens the file |
|---|---|---|
| Age and health of the person receiving care | Whether the need for care is genuine and ongoing | Birth certificate, hospital or medical board report |
| Caregiver's education | Level of education and any training in care | Diploma, caregiving or first aid certificate |
| Caregiver's experience | Previous work in a similar job | Reference letters, documents from previous jobs |
| Knowledge of Turkish | Ability to communicate with the family and the person receiving care | A document or background showing knowledge of Turkish |
| Previous residence and work in Turkey | Legal history and any violations | Previous residence and work permits |
| Marital status and age | How well the caregiver's profile fits the job | Up-to-date and consistent identity information |
| Nature of the work | Whether the work is genuinely care work | A clear and honest job description |
| Employer's socio-economic situation | Assets and regular monthly income | Payslips, SGK statement, title deeds, bank records |
If your caregiver candidate has previously overstayed a visa or residence permit in Turkey, this directly affects the file. To see the possible overstay fine and the risk of an entry ban in advance, use our overstay fine calculator.
A 5-question checklist before you apply
Answering the following questions before you start collecting documents will save you both time and effort:
- Is my care need covered by the permit? If it is not child care, elderly care, disability care or patient care, no application can be made.
- Who will be the applicant? For child care, the mother or father; for elderly care, the person themselves or a first- or second-degree relative.
- In whose name will I show income? If necessary, a notarized letter of undertaking must be prepared.
- Where is the caregiver right now? If they are in Turkey with a residence permit valid for at least 6 months, the in-country route applies; if not, the application is made from abroad.
- Can my budget handle it? Factor in an employer cost of roughly 40,875 TL per month and 13,538.90 TL for the permit fee and card fee in the first year.
Documents required for a caregiver work permit in Turkey
Documents required from the employer family
- The applicant's identity details and proof of address (residence certificate)
- Civil registry record showing the family relationship
- Income documents: payslips, SGK service statement, pension certificate, tax registration certificate or rental income documents
- Asset documents: title deed, vehicle registration, bank statement (if any)
- Employment contract with the caregiver, showing the care work and the salary
- If you are employed, an employment certificate from your workplace; it strengthens the file because it shows the need for care
Documents required from the caregiver
- Passport valid beyond the requested permit period, plus a photocopy
- Recent biometric photo
- Diploma or education certificate (if any, with an apostille and a sworn translation)
- References and a CV showing caregiving experience
- For in-country applications, a residence permit valid for at least 6 months
- For applications from abroad, the reference number issued by the consulate
Additional documents depending on the situation
- A recent health report for elderly, disability or patient care
- A custody decision for divorced parents
- A guardianship decision for applications by a guardian
- A notarized letter of undertaking if the income belongs to another family member
In the employment contract, describe the caregiver's duties clearly, for example as "child care" or "elderly care and companionship", and state the gross salary and the work address. Vague wording leads to requests for missing documents and to delays.
Applying from inside Turkey or from abroad?
Where the caregiver is now, and with what status, determines the route to follow.
| Topic | In-country application | Application from abroad |
|---|---|---|
| Where is the caregiver? | In Turkey, with a residence permit valid for at least 6 months (student residence permits excluded) | In their home country |
| First step | The family's e-İzin application | The caregiver's work visa application at the consulate |
| Critical deadline | Remaining validity of the residence permit | The family uploading documents within 10 days |
| Starting work | After approval and payment of the fee | After entering Turkey on the work visa |
| Watch out for | Type and validity of the residence permit | Restriction on moving to another family within 6 months |
In-country application steps
- Initial consultation
Together we clarify your care needs, who the applicant will be and the caregiver's residence status.
- Preparing the documents
The family's and the caregiver's documents, the health report and the employment contract are completed in full.
- e-İzin application
The applicant logs in to the system with their e-Devlet (Turkish e-government) password, enters the information and uploads the documents.
- Assessment
Complete applications are decided within 30 days; if additional documents are requested, they are supplied quickly.
- Approval and fee
After approval, the fee and card fee are paid within 30 days.
- SGK registration and starting work
The caregiver is registered with SGK and can start working legally.
Steps for applying from abroad
- Consulate application
The caregiver applies for a work visa at the Turkish consulate in their home country and receives a reference number.
- Family uploads the documents
The family logs in to the e-İzin system with this number and uploads the documents within 10 days.
- Ministry assessment
The file is reviewed; any request for missing documents is answered.
- Approval and fee payment
After approval, the fee and card fee are paid within 30 days.
- Visa and entry to Turkey
The consulate issues the work visa, and the caregiver travels to Turkey.
- SGK and starting work
SGK registration is completed; because the work permit replaces a residence permit, no separate residence application is needed.
If your caregiver candidate is in Turkey but their residence permit has less than 6 months left, you may first need to consider a residence permit extension. For a candidate who is in Turkey on a tourist visa, the application is handled from abroad.
How long does a caregiver work permit take in Turkey?
By law, complete applications are decided within 30 days. If the Ministry requests additional documents, the period is extended until they are supplied. For caregivers coming from abroad, you also need to allow time for the consulate appointment and visa procedures.
Our advice for working mothers: plan backwards from the date your maternity leave ends. Leave room for preparing documents, the 30-day assessment, paying the fee and, if needed, the visa process. That way, on your first day back at work you can leave your baby with a legal, insured caregiver. For families who urgently need a caregiver because of a sudden illness, the priority is to prepare a complete file the first time.
Cost of a foreign caregiver in Turkey (2026)
A foreign caregiver's salary cannot be lower than the minimum wage. For a caregiver on the minimum wage, the income tax and stamp tax exemption applies, so the caregiver takes home 28,075.50 TL. The cost to the family is calculated by adding the SGK employer share and the employer's unemployment insurance share to the gross salary.
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | 33,030.00 TL | 396,360.00 TL |
| Caregiver's net pay | 28,075.50 TL | 336,906.00 TL |
| SGK employer share (21.75%) | 7,184.03 TL | 86,208.30 TL |
| Unemployment insurance employer share (2%) | 660.60 TL | 7,927.20 TL |
| Total employer cost to the family | 40,874.63 TL | ≈ 490,495 TL |
| Work permit fee (1 year) | – | 12,574.90 TL |
| Work permit card | – | 964.00 TL |
| First-year total | – | ≈ 504,034 TL |
Amounts apply to 2026 and are updated when the legislation changes. The calculation is made without incentives. For employers who meet the conditions for a contribution reduction, the monthly cost falls to 40,214.03 TL with a 2-point reduction and to 39,223.13 TL with a 5-point reduction; we check together during SGK registration whether you qualify for the reduction.
If you plan to pay the caregiver more than the minimum wage, SGK contributions and taxes are calculated on the actual salary. For live-in caregivers, do not forget to add costs such as accommodation and meals to your budget. To calculate with your own figures, our foreign caregiver cost calculator brings salary, SGK and fees together on one screen; if you only want to see the fee amounts, use our work permit fee calculator.
Free calculatorForeign Caregiver Cost in Turkey: 2026 CalculatorCalculate a foreign caregiver's net salary, the SGK employer share, the monthly employer cost and the first-year total…SGK registration: why your caregiver must be insured
A caregiver who receives a work permit is registered with SGK, and contributions are paid regularly every month. This is not only a legal obligation but also a safeguard for your family:
- It protects you: In the event of a workplace accident at home, you do not face the heavy liability that comes with employing someone uninsured.
- It protects the caregiver: The caregiver has access to healthcare services, and their treatment is covered if they fall ill.
- It makes extension easier: Regularly paid contributions and an SGK record that matches the declared salary are strong support for an extension application.
Make sure the salary reported to SGK is the same as the salary declared in the work permit application. Also, because a work permit replaces a residence permit, your caregiver does not need to pay a separate residence permit fee.
Live-in or live-out? What to watch for in the employment contract
Whether your caregiver lives in your home or goes back to their own home every evening, the work permit and SGK obligations are the same. Domestic workers fall outside the scope of the Turkish Labor Law, and the employment relationship is governed by the Turkish Code of Obligations. That is why preparing the contract carefully is the most effective way to prevent future disputes.
- State the caregiver's duties clearly (child care, elderly care, companionship).
- Specify the gross salary, the payment day and the payment method; paying through a bank creates a record.
- Clarify working hours, the weekly rest day and leave periods.
- For live-in caregivers, add accommodation and meal arrangements to the contract.
Changing caregivers and the 6-month rule
What should you do if your caregiver leaves?
When your caregiver leaves the job, you must notify the Ministry within the legal deadline and complete the SGK exit. Because the work permit is specific to you and that caregiver, if you want to work with a new caregiver, a new application is filed and the fee is paid again. The departing caregiver's permit cannot be transferred to the new caregiver.
What is the 6-month rule?
If a caregiver who came to Turkey through an application made from abroad applies from inside Turkey to move to another employer within 6 months of their start date, the application is generally rejected unless there is force majeure. The rule aims to protect the effort and expense of the family who brought the caregiver from abroad.
This rule matters in both directions. If you are bringing a caregiver from abroad, it is not easy for your caregiver to move to another family in the first months. And if you are thinking of hiring a caregiver who has only recently started working with another family, you need to check in advance whether your application could be caught by this rule. If you are the caregiver, keep this rule in mind before planning a move to a new family.
Extending a caregiver work permit
On the first application, the work permit is granted for up to 1 year. With the same family, a permit of up to 2 years can be obtained on the first extension and up to 3 years on subsequent extensions. An extension application can be filed starting 60 days before the permit expires and must be completed before the permit runs out.
- For the extension, the continuing need for care is shown again; if the child has grown or the elderly relative's health has changed, updated documents are added.
- Your income situation is reassessed with up-to-date documents.
- Regular SGK registration and payment of the salary at the declared amount are important.
We track extension dates for you and remind you before the deadline.
Caregiver work permit rejection reasons and appeals
- The job description appearing to be cleaning or general housework rather than care
- The application being filed in the name of an unauthorized person (for example, an aunt for child care)
- Income being considered insufficient or irregular, or the required letter of undertaking being missing
- A missing or outdated health report for elderly or patient care
- For in-country applications, the caregiver's residence permit being valid for less than 6 months, or being a student residence permit
- A visa violation, entry ban or public order obstacle concerning the caregiver
- A change of employer caught by the 6-month rule
- The salary being shown below the minimum wage, or contradictory documents
- The fee not being paid within 30 days of approval
An objection to a rejection decision can be filed with the Ministry within 30 days of notification; if the objection is rejected, the route to the administrative courts is open. We prepare the objection petition with you; at the lawsuit stage, the process is handled through our partner attorneys under our rejection appeal service. In most cases, removing the reason for rejection and filing a new application produces results faster.
The risks of employing an unregistered caregiver
Employing a caregiver without a permit leads to separate, substantial administrative fines for both the family and the caregiver. These fines increase every year in line with the revaluation rate. Moreover, paying the fine does not mean the caregiver gains legal status.
- Administrative fine: Imposed separately on both the family and the caregiver.
- Return costs: The family may be held liable for the caregiver's travel costs back to their home country.
- Deportation and entry ban: The caregiver may be deported and banned from entering Turkey, which means the care of your child or relative could be disrupted overnight.
- Uninsured employment: Additional sanctions apply under SGK legislation, and in the event of an accident at home, the liability rests entirely with you.
- Trust: The identity and background of someone working off the books have not been officially verified.
If a caregiver is currently working in your home without a permit, it is often possible to regularize their status. If the caregiver has a valid residence permit with enough time remaining, the application can be filed from inside Turkey; if not, the route from abroad applies. If an entry ban has been imposed on the caregiver, we first assess the options for entry ban removal.
Caregiver work permit services in the Marmara Region
We know the caregiving needs of working families in Marmara's major cities well:
- Istanbul: Nanny and elderly parent care files for working couples on both the Asian (Anatolian) and European sides. See our region page for caregiver work permits in Istanbul.
- Kocaeli: Nanny applications for shift-working parents in İzmit and Gebze. Details are on our Kocaeli service region page.
- Bursa: Child, elderly and patient care files in Nilüfer and Osmangazi. We handle foreign caregiver processes in Bursa for you.
- Tekirdağ: Caregiver applications for working families in Çorlu and Süleymanpaşa. Take a look at our Tekirdağ service region page.
- Sakarya: Families in Adapazarı and Serdivan looking for a caregiver for their elderly parents. Learn more about our caregiver work permit support in Sakarya.
We also serve families in Yalova, Balıkesir, Çanakkale, Edirne, Kırklareli and Bilecik. Because the process is largely electronic, you can receive consultancy from anywhere in Turkey without leaving your home.
Why Fast Danışmanlık?
For a family, finding a caregiver is not just an official procedure but an emotional decision. Since 2010, we have stood by working mothers, working couples and adult children who take on the care of their parents.
- We save you time: We prepare the document list for your situation and explain what is requested and why.
- We identify the right applicant: We clarify from the start in whose name the file will be opened and how income will be shown.
- We prepare a complete file: A complete file maximizes your chances of approval; because the decision belongs to the Ministry, we cannot promise approval.
- We track deadlines: We monitor fee payments, SGK registration, extensions and caregiver change notifications for you.
- We are easy to reach: You can ask your questions by phone or WhatsApp at +90 542 392 90 92.
Caregiver Work Permit: frequently asked questions
Complete applications are decided within 30 days. If missing documents are requested, the period is extended; if the caregiver is coming from abroad, you also need to plan time for consulate and visa procedures.
No. In domestic services, work permits are issued only for child care, elderly care, disability care and patient care. Applications for cleaning or general housework alone are rejected.
There is no fixed minimum income figure. The Ministry assesses the family's regular monthly income, its assets and its ability to pay the caregiver's salary and SGK contributions as a whole.
Yes. For elderly, disability and patient care, first- or second-degree relatives of the person who needs care can apply. As their child, you can be the applicant for your mother or father.
The mother being employed is not listed as a separate requirement for being the applicant; either the mother or the father can apply. However, because the Ministry assesses the need for care and the family's situation as a whole, being a working mother or a working couple strengthens the file.
A caregiver's salary cannot be lower than the minimum wage. In 2026, this is 33,030 TL gross and 28,075.50 TL net; the total cost to the family without incentives is roughly 40,874.63 TL per month.
No. A valid work permit replaces a residence permit. However, to apply from inside Turkey, the caregiver must hold a residence permit valid for at least 6 months at the time of application.
Yes. The work permit is issued for a specific employer and caregiver; a new application is filed for the new caregiver and the fee is paid again. Do not forget to report the departing caregiver's exit within the legal deadline.
A tourist visa is not sufficient for an in-country application; applying from inside Turkey requires a residence permit valid for at least 6 months. In this case, the application is filed from abroad through the Turkish consulate in the caregiver's home country.
An objection to the rejection can be filed with the Ministry within 30 days of notification. If the reason for rejection relates to income, documents or the job description, fixing the issue and filing a new application often produces results faster.
